Method and apparatus for focused data communications

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for focused communication is disclosed. The method includes a base transmitter array in communication with at least one client device at the same frequency. The base transmitter array provides a focused data communication to the client device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/725,215, filed Dec. 23, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/649,187, filed Jul. 13, 2017, which issued asU.S. Pat. No. 10,523,301 on Dec. 31, 2019, which is a continuation ofU.S. application Ser. No. 15/153,361, filed May 12, 2016, which issuedas U.S. Pat. No. 9,736,815 on Aug. 15, 2017, which is a continuation ofU.S. application Ser. No. 14/186,344 filed Feb. 21, 2014, which issuedas U.S. Pat. No. 9,351,281 on May 24, 2016, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/768,004, filed Feb. 22, 2013,the contents of all are incorporated herein by reference as if fully setforth.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to data communications.

BACKGROUND

As the world becomes more and more dependent on access to data frommobile devices, there is an increasing need to provide data services toclients requesting them. Cellular systems, global positioning systems(GPS) and wireless communication systems, (e.g., IEEE 802 systems), arefaced with limitations regarding, for example, bandwidth, range, andcapacity. Some solutions to this are to add infrastructure and/or toutilize pointed range techniques. However, these methods can be costlyand ineffective.

Thus, a method and apparatus for focusing data communications isdesired.

SUMMARY

A method and apparatus for focused communication is disclosed. Themethod includes a base transmitter array in communication with at leastone client device. The base transmitter array provides a focused datacommunication to the client device.

These and other features of the invention will become readily apparentupon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an example system diagram of a focused data communicationssystem including a client device and a base transmitter array;

FIG. 2 is another example system diagram of a focused datacommunications system including a plurality of client devices;

FIG. 3 is another example system diagram of a focused datacommunications system including a moving client device;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an example method of providing focused datacommunications;

FIG. 5 is an example functional block diagram of an antenna elementprocessor in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an example functional block diagram of an array controller inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an example functional block diagram of a client device inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIGS. 8A-8F are example system diagrams of a focused data communicationsbase transmitter array during detection of a new client device;

FIG. 9 shows an example array coverage of a focused data communicationssystem; and

FIGS. 10A-10C are example diagrams of directivity and locationembodiments of a focused communications system.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is an example system diagram of a focused data communicationssystem 100 including a client device 110 and a base transmitter array120. The base transmitter array 120 includes a plurality of antennas121. It should be noted that, although nineteen antennas 121 aredepicted in the example base transmitter array 120, any number ofantennas may be utilized. The client 110, (denoted C1), is in wirelesscommunication with the antennas 121 of the base transmitter array 120.Each antenna 121 receives the communication from the client device 110at a different time offset and transmits data to the client device 110utilizing the time offset in the reverse order to the transmission timeoffset received from the client device 110 such that when the datatransmission signals from each antenna 121 are summed at the clientdevice 110, a clear signal is received. For example, the path length perantenna 121 may be p(n). The time of the path then may be given by theequation:

$\begin{matrix}{{{t(n)} = {{p(n)}/c}},} & {{Equation}\mspace{14mu}(1)}\end{matrix}$

where c=the speed of light.

In order for the data transmission signals from each antenna element 121to arrive at the client device 110 at the same time, each antennaelement 121 starts its transmission at:

$\begin{matrix}{{time} = {{\max\left( {t(n)} \right)} - {{t(n)}.}}} & {{Equation}\mspace{14mu}(2)}\end{matrix}$

FIG. 2 is another example system diagram of a focused datacommunications system 200 including a plurality of client devices 110.In system 200, each client device 110, (denoted C1, C2, and C3), is inwireless communication with each antenna element 121 of the basetransmitter 120. In this case, multiple communication links are createdbetween the base transmitter 120 and each client device 110.

Since each signal to client C1, C2, and C3 is separated, the clientdevices 110 may share the same frequency or channel, thus allowing anincrease in the utilization of each frequency band or communicationchannel. Additionally, the signal of each client device 110 should bebelow, or much lower than, the noise level of the signal intended toanother client device 110. For example, signals not intended for C1cancel one another, resulting in a clear transmission of the signalintended for C1 at client device C1.

In order to transmit simultaneous signals to multiple clients 110 on thesame frequency, each antenna element 121 utilizes the time offsetreceived from each client 110 relative to every other antenna element121 in the base transmitter array 120. Accordingly, each antenna element121 may then sum the encoded signals and transmit a juxtaposed sum ofall the client 110 signals to the clients 110, resulting in separatespatially isolated data communication signals that the intended client110 may receive and decode clearly. For example, at an intended focuslocation, the signals (each having a strength “s”), add up linearly,causing a linear increase in the client device's 110 antenna, wherebythe total signal is N times s. However, at non-intended focus locations,the signals are received at haphazard times without a cohesive phase,resulting in a signal that has a strength of: (s0+s1+s2+s3+s4+s5+s6+. .. +sN)/N, which is much weaker than the intended focus signal.

Also, since the same, or a single, frequency may be shared and utilizedto transmit data from the base transmitter array 120 to multiple clients110, it is therefore possible to expand the capacity of the datacommunication systems, (e.g., 100, 200 and 300). For example, byutilizing multiple frequencies, where groups of client devices 110 sharea first frequency, groups of client devices 110 share a secondfrequency, and so on, many more client devices 110 may be providedservices by the base transmitter array 120.

FIG. 3 is another example system diagram of a focused datacommunications system 300 including a moving client device 110, denotedas C2. In this scenario, the client device C2 is moving from a firstposition (POS1) to a second position (POS2) in the direction of thearrow, while maintaining wireless communication with each of the antennaelements 121 of the base transmitter array 120. Each antenna element 121is recalibrated during every signal reception to account for the changein time offset received from client device C2.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an example method 400 of providing focuseddata communications. For purposes of example, method 400 may be appliedto any of the above described systems 100, 200, and 300, as well as anyother data communications system. In step 410, the base transmitterarray 120 receives an encoded signal from at least one client device110. For example, in the system depicted in FIG. 1, the base transmitterarray 120 receives a communication signal from client device C1. In FIG.2, the base transmitter array 120 receives multiple communicationsignals from client devices C1, C2, and C3. In FIG. 3, the basetransmitter array 120 is shown receiving a communication signal fromclient device C2.

Each antenna element 121 of the base transmitter array 120 receives thedata communications from the at least one client device 110 with adifferent time offset than every other antenna element 121. For example,referring back to FIG. 1, antenna element 1211 receives the datacommunication from client device C1 with a different offset than antennaelement 121 _(n). Accordingly, each antenna element 121 of the basetransmitter 120 determines an input time offset from the at least oneclient device 110 (step 420) with respect to every other antenna element121.

The offset determination may be performed by summing of the totality ofthe antennas of the antenna elements 121. In this manner, each antennaelement 121 is comparing itself to the consensus, and when an antenna isgetting away from the consensus, it starts to get back in line with anew offset, which it discovers by testing its output against theconsensus, or testing its modified time offset consensus against theconsensus without the modification, and choosing whether to keep themodification or stay the same. This may be performed by the antennaelements 121 whether the client device 110 is in motion or not.

Once the time offset is computed, each antenna element 121 of the basetransmitter 120 is tuned based on the time offset for each client device110 (step 430). For example, each antenna element 121 may time offsetits transmission signal to the client device 110 in the reverse order ofthe received time offset from the client device 110.

In step 440, each antenna element 121 of the base transmitter 120transmits data to the at least one client device 110 based upon thedetermined time offset at that antenna element.

Since the client devices 110 may be in motion, a determination is madeas to whether the at least one client device 110 has moved (step 450).For example, in FIG. 3, client C2 is shown moving from POS1 to POS2. Inthis case, each antenna element 121 is recalibrated and retuned (step460) to account for the movement of the client device 110. This may beaccomplished by comparing each antenna element's time shifted signalagainst a consolidated signal, whereby if the time shifted signal is notin synch with the consolidated signal, it is adjusted to match theconsolidated signal, and is communicated to each antenna element 121 toupdate a table entry with respect to that client device 110.

FIG. 5 is an example functional block diagram of an antenna elementprocessor 500 in accordance with an embodiment. The antenna elementprocessor 500 includes a plurality of client carrier components 510, aplurality of message encoding components 520, a network switch 530, asummer 540, an incoming signal analog to digital (A/D) encoder 550, aphase and time detection component 560, a send/receivemultiplexer/demultiplexer (MUX/DEMUX) 570, and an antenna 580. Clientinformation for each client device 110, (e.g., client ID, phaseposition, and time offset), is stored in a table 590 utilized by theantenna element processor 500.

Data enters on an input line to the network switch 530, while carrierand time synch information are input into the client carrier component510 and phase and time detection component 560. The carrier informationmay be common signal carrier information shared with all antennaelements 121, such as a lower frequency for use by a phase locked loop(PLL) to target the frequency of any desired channel. The time synchsignal may be a clock that allows resolution of events to a sub-wavelevel, (e.g., 10 ns for a 2.4 GHz signal, or 4 ns for a 900 MHz signal).

The network switch 530 outputs a message signal to the message encodingcomponents 520, which also receive inputs from respective client carriercomponents 510. The network switch 530 also provides the clientinformation table 590 information to the client carrier components 510and message encoding components 520. The summer 540 receives the signalsfrom the message encoding components 520 along with the appropriate timeoffset for each client device 110 and outputs an outgoing signal to theMUX/DEMUX 570 for transmission by the antenna 580. If the input receivedby the summer 540 is a digital signal, the summer may be a digitalsignal adder and convert the summation to analogue, while if the inputto the summer 540 is an analog signal, the summer 540 performs thesummation in the analog domain.

The MUX/DEMUX 570 also receives incoming transmissions from the antenna580 and forwards the incoming signal sans the outgoing signal, to theincoming signal A/D encoder 550 and phase and time detection component560. The MUX/DEMUX 570 may be utilized to operate to allow multipleclient devices 110 to transmit to the antenna element 121, whiletransmitting data from the antenna element 121 to other client devices110.

The incoming signal A/D encoder 550 outputs a digital signal to thenetwork switch 530, and the phase and time detection component outputs asignal to the incoming signal A/D encoder 550. The phase and timedetection component 560 may detect or establish new client devices 110,for example utilizing an encoded beacon signal from a client device 110.

FIG. 6 is an example functional block diagram of an array controller 600in accordance with an embodiment. The array controller 600 may beutilized to coordinate the functioning of all of the antenna elements121. The array controller 600 includes a plurality of conceptualcomponents 610, a digital to digital signal decoder (D/D) 620, a systemclock 630, a network switch 640, a data network switch 650, and aplurality of connectors 660.

In operation, where each antenna element 121 has established its phaseand time offsets necessary to send out a signal, each data packet fortransmission is tagged with the client identification so that it may beencoded with the appropriate phase and time offsets.

The array controller 600 receives signals from a client device 110 inthe conceptual component 610 for a particular client device 110. Thissignal may be received indirectly via the A/D encoder 550 of eachantenna element processor 500. The signal from each antenna element 121may then be added to the signals from all other antenna elements 121utilizing “reverse timing” of the client device 110 time offset used totransmit. The reverse timing may be computed in accordance with thefollowing equation:

Reverse Timing=(MaxClientTimeOffset)−ClientTimeOffset,   Equation (3)

where the reverse timing is effectively a number between 0 and theClientTimeOffset for each client, and MaxTimeOffset is the difference intime from the earliest antenna element 121 receiving a signal to thelatest antenna element 121 receiving the same signal.

Since each client device 110 is silent for some of the time, there maybe little crosstalk between signals and the data lines may be silent.Where more than one client device 110 is in the same location for themost part, (e.g., “hot spot”), where the time offsets are so similar toone another that their signals are received superimposed, it may bedifficult to differentiate between one client device 110 and another. Inthese cases, time division multiple access (TDMA) and/or code divisionmultiple access (CDMA) transmission techniques may be utilized. A clientdevice 110 may also deactivate collision detection mechanisms in orderto transmit to the base transmitter 120 without waiting for other clientdevices 110 to cease their transmissions, in order to enable fulltwo-way bandwidth capabilities with each client device 110.

The network switch 640 receives data, (e.g., data packets from/to clientdevices 110), from a thick data pipe from an external central networkand communicates data back and forth to each conceptual component 610,which includes a message decoder 611, a summer 612 and a plurality oftime shifters 613. Data proceeds to the antenna elements 121 from theconceptual components 610 via the D/D 620, data network switch 650 andthe connector 660 for a respective antenna element 121. Additionally,the system clock 630 provides the carrier and time synch signals foreach antenna element 121. Outgoing data to clients is provided by thenetwork switch 640 to the data network switch 650.

FIG. 7 is an example functional block diagram of an example clientdevice 110 in accordance with an embodiment. The client device 110includes a processor 115, a transmitter 116 in communication with theprocessor 115, a receiver 117 in communication with the processor 115,an antenna 118 in communication with the transmitter 116 and thereceiver 117, and a memory 119 in communication with the processor 115in order to facilitate wireless transmission and reception. Theprocessor 115 may be configured to process data communications fortransmission and reception to and from the base transmitter array 120.

FIGS. 8A-8F are example system diagrams of a focused data communicationsbase transmitter array 820 during detection of a new client device 110.For purposes of example, the base transmitter array 820 is substantiallysimilar to the base transmitter array 120, and although nineteen antennaelements 821 are shown, it should be understood that more or lessantenna elements may be utilized. Additionally, it should be noted thatantenna elements 821 are substantially similar to antenna elements 121.

When the base transmitter array 821 is operational, it may detect newclients within its service domain and establish time offsets forcommunication. When a client device 110 is powered on, it attempts tocommunicate with the base transmitter array 820. Accordingly, the basetransmitter array 820 may tune specific antenna elements 821 to specificdirections. For example, in FIG. 8A, antenna elements 9, 11 and 12 aretuned to a first direction. In FIG. 8B, antenna elements 5, 15, and 19are tuned to a second direction. In FIG. 8C, antenna elements 6, 14, and17 are tuned to a third direction. In FIG. 8D, antenna elements 8, 9,and 11 are tuned to a fourth direction. In FIG. 8E, antenna elements 1,5, and 15 are tuned to a fifth direction. In FIG. 8F, antenna elements3, 6, and 14 are tuned to a sixth direction. The tuning may beaccomplished in a soft manner, such as by dedicated circuitry such asthe conceptual component 610 describe above.

In the layout shown in FIGS. 8A-8F, each reception lobe of the basetransmitter array 820 may have a width of 75 degrees, allowing overlapand full coverage around the array. However, it should be noted that anysubdivision of 360 degrees may be utilized to form the reception lobesthat make up the set of tuned directions.

FIG. 9 shows an example array coverage of a focused data communicationssystem 900 tuned in accordance with the antenna elements 821 in FIGS.8A-8F. The base transmitter array 920, which is substantially similar tothe base transmitter arrays 120 and 820, includes a coverage area 930. Aplurality of coverage lobes 940 include a plurality of overlap areas941. Accordingly, a new client device 110 within the coverage area 930is detected by the base transmitter array 920.

Since the directional lobes are monitoring for new client devices 110not yet known, once a new client device 110 is detected, the remainderof the antenna elements 821 may be provided with information to quicklycorrect their respective time and phase offsets so that the newlydetected client devices 110 receive their focused spatially directeddata signal.

Due to the signals being highly focused, battery life of the clientdevice 110 may be increased as the client device 110 may utilize lesspower for communication with the base transmitter array 120/420/820/920.Additionally, the coverage area 930 may be greater than in aconventional communication system for the same power, since focusedsignals may travel farther, and since the array is able to tune to aparticular client device 110, as opposed to sending signal power out inmultiple directions.

FIGS. 10A-10C are example diagrams of directivity and locationembodiments of a focused communications system 1000. For example, inFIG. 10A, the system includes a base transmitter array 1020, which issubstantially similar to the base transmitter arrays 120, 420, 820 and920. As conventional data communication arrays include antennas directedgenerally downward, only a client device 110 at ground level G mayexperience quality data communications. Accordingly, a client device 110at position T at the top floor of a tall building B, or a client device110 on an airplane A, may not receive quality data communications.

By utilizing a focused data communication system, such as using the basetransmitter 1020, (shown on a conventional cellular tower), high qualitysignals may be provided to client devices 110 at locations G, B, or A.

FIGS. 10B and 10C depict the focused data communication system 1000 inan embodiment that may be utilized for location based services, similarto GPS or navigation services. In the example shown in FIGS. 10B and10C, a client device 110 at location L, shown adjacent to building B,may be located using the base transmitter array 1020. By analyzing thetime offsets at each antenna element (not shown) of the base transmitterarray 1020, it can be determined the angle of altitude of location Lwith respect to the height H of the base transmitter array 1020.Similarly, an azimuth angle θ can be determined by knowledge of thedirection of the location L with respect to North in relation to thebase transmitter array 1020. Additionally, since the distance d may bedetermined by the configuration of the base transmitter array 1020,location services may be provided to the client device 110 at locationL. Effectively, by examining the time delays at the base transmitterarray 1020, the direction of the client may be determined. However,since the base transmitter array 1020 has volumetric size, multipledetermined directions may be traced from the edges of the volume todetermine where they converge at, which may provide the actual location(direction+distance).

The methods and devices described above may operate at the physicalcommunication layer stack. However, it should be noted that any stackmay be utilized to carry out functionality as needed for any of themethods and devices described above.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims. For example, the client devicedescribed above may refer to a cellular phone, PDA, or any otherwireless device that may be utilized for data communication.Additionally, for example, the size of the base transmitter array may beon the order of the (number of clients)^(2.5), however any size may beutilized. Additionally, although the client device 110 is shown, forpurposes of example, as having only a single antenna, it should be notedthat client devices may include more than one antenna.

Also, it should be noted that the base transmitter array may be a largeset of antennas configured in a three-dimensional (3D) arrangement,where each antenna is capable transmitting one or more data encodedsignals, whereby the transmitted signal is the sum of the encodedsignals to be transmitted. As described above, each signal may be addedwith a specific time offset that is different for each antenna element.One example arrangement to arrange the antenna elements of the basetransmitter array is to utilize the example of 3D quasi-crystalarrangement.

Additionally, although the features and elements of the presentapplication are described in the example embodiments in particularcombinations, each feature or element can be used alone (without theother features and elements of the example embodiments) or in variouscombinations with or without other features and elements of the presentapplication.

1. A wireless communication system comprising: a plurality of antennaelements, an array controller that is communicatively coupled to theplurality of antenna elements; wherein the array controller: receives,via the plurality of antenna elements, a first signal from a new clientdevice, calculates, for each of the plurality of antenna elements, arespective offset based on the first signal by each respective antennaelement, determines a consensus offset based on the respective offsetcalculated for each of the plurality of antenna elements, determines arespective input timing offset for each of the plurality of antennaelements by comparing the respective timing offset with the consensus,and transmits, via the plurality of antenna elements, a electromagneticwave to the new client device using the respective input timing offsetof each the plurality of antenna elements.
 2. The wireless communicationsystem of claim 1, wherein the consensus offset is calculated by summingthe respective offset for each of plurality of antenna elements.
 3. Thewireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the array controllerfurther: determines a first location of the new client device inthree-dimensional space based on the respective timing offset of theplurality of antenna elements; and generates, using the plurality ofantenna elements, constructive interference of an electromagnetic waveat the first location.
 4. The wireless communication system of claim 1,wherein the respective input timing offset for each of the plurality ofantenna elements are further determined by testing a modified offsetconsensus against the consensus offset, and choosing whether to keep themodified offset consensus as the consensus offset.
 5. The wirelesscommunication system of claim 1, wherein the array controller further:demuxes the first signal into multiple data signals, each correspondingto one of the new client device; prepares responsive data signals foreach of the new client device; generates an output data signal by muxingthe responsive data signals; and transmits, via the plurality of antennaelements, the output data signal to the new client device.
 6. Thewireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the array controllerfurther: determines a motion vector for the new client device based uponthe respective input timing offset of each the plurality of antennaelements.
 7. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein theelectromagnetic wave provides power to the new client device.
 8. Amethod for wireless communication, the method comprising: receiving, bya plurality of antenna elements, a first signal from a new clientdevice, calculating, by a processor, a respective offset for each of theplurality of antenna elements based on the first signal by eachrespective antenna element; determining, by the processor, a consensusoffset based on the respective offset calculated for each of theplurality of antenna elements; determining, by the processor, arespective input timing offset for each of the plurality of antennaelements by comparing the respective timing offset with the consensus;and transmits, by the plurality of antenna elements, a electromagneticwave to the new client device using the respective input timing offsetof each the plurality of antenna elements.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein the consensus offset is calculated by summing the respectiveoffset for each of plurality of antenna elements.
 10. The method ofclaim 8, further comprising: determing, by the processor, a firstlocation of the new client device in three-dimensional space based onthe respective timing offset of the plurality of antenna elements; andgenerating, by the plurality of antenna elements, constructiveinterference of an electromagnetic wave at the first location.
 11. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the respective input timing offset for eachof the plurality of antenna elements are further determined by testing amodified offset consensus against the consensus offset, and choosingwhether to keep the modified offset consensus as the consensus offset.12. The method of claim 8, further comprising: demuxing, by theprocessor, the first signal into multiple data signals, eachcorresponding to one of the new client device; preparing, by theprocessor, responsive data signals for each of the new client device;generating, by the processor, an output data signal by muxing theresponsive data signals; and transmitting, by the plurality of antennaelements, the output data signal to the new client device.
 13. Themethod of claim 8, further comprising: Determining, by the processor, amotion vector for the new client device based upon the respective inputtiming offset of each the plurality of antenna elements.
 14. Anon-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instruction, theinstructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to executea method for wireless communication, the method comprising: receiving,by the processor a first signal from a new client device via a pluralityof antenna elements; calculating, by the processor, a respective offsetfor each of the plurality of antenna elements based on the first signalby each respective antenna element; determining, by the processor, aconsensus offset based on the respective offset calculated for each ofthe plurality of antenna elements; determining, by the processor, arespective input timing offset for each of the plurality of antennaelements by comparing the respective timing offset with the consensus;and transmits, by the processor, a electromagnetic wave to the newclient device using the respective input timing offset of each theplurality of antenna elements via the plurality of antenna elements. 15.The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, whereinthe consensus offset is calculated by summing the respective offset foreach of plurality of antenna elements.
 16. The non-transitory computerreadable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the method furthercomprises: determing, by the processor, a first location of the newclient device in three-dimensional space based on the respective timingoffset of the plurality of antenna elements; and generating, by theprocessor, constructive interference of an electromagnetic wave at thefirst location via the plurality of antenna elements.
 17. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein therespective input timing offset for each of the plurality of antennaelements are further determined by testing a modified offset consensusagainst the consensus offset, and choosing whether to keep the modifiedoffset consensus as the consensus offset.
 18. The non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the method furthercomprises: demuxing, by the processor, the first signal into multipledata signals, each corresponding to one of the new client device;preparing, by the processor, responsive data signals for each of the newclient device; generating, by the processor, an output data signal bymuxing the responsive data signals; and transmitting, by the processor,the output data signal to the new client device via the plurality ofantenna elements.
 19. The non-transitory computer readable storagemedium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises: determining,by the processor, a motion vector for the new client device based uponthe respective input timing offset of each the plurality of antennaelements.